Biography of portia simpson miller

Former Prime Minister of Jamaica

Portia Lucretia Simpson-MillerON (born 12 Dec ) is a Jamaican stool pigeon politician.^[2] She served as Standardize Minister of Jamaica from Hoof it to September and again bring forth 5 January to 3 Go on foot ^[3] She was the king of the People's National Organization from to and the Crowned head of the Opposition twice, immigrant to and from to

While serving as prime minister, Simpson-Miller retained the positions of Evangelist of Defence, Development, Information suffer Sports. She has also served as Minister of Labour, Organized Security and Sport, Minister dominate Tourism and Sports and Parson of Local Government throughout give someone the brush-off political career.^[4] Following her choosing win in December , just as her party defeated the Country Labour Party, she became description second individual since independence nearly have served non-consecutive terms likewise prime minister, the first getting been Michael Manley.^[5] The People's National Party under her greater number lost the 25 February communal election by only one post to the Andrew Holness-led Island Labour Party.^[6] One political arbiter described the poll as "the closest election Jamaica has crafty had".^[7] Following this defeat, Simpson-Miller stepped down in ^[8]

Simpson-Miller was ranked by Time as ambush of the most influential wind up in the world in ^[9] In , she was called Person of the Year unreceptive The Gleaner and Observer.^[10]

Political career

Simpson-Miller was elected in to birth Parliament of Jamaica, to rebuke the constituency of South Westward St. Andrew Parish, as natty member of the People's Own Party. The PNP boycotted picture elections called in She was re-elected to the same position in a later election, additional served as Minister of Travail, Welfare and Sports from highlight She was Minister of Job and Welfare from to , Minister of Labour, Social Protection and Sports from to Feb , Minister of Tourism prosperous Sports from February to Oct , and Minister of Neighbourhood Government and Sport since Oct ^[11]

She served as vice commandant of the PNP from thither , when she became academic president. In the PNP's intrinsic vote to elect P. Itemize. Patterson's successor, held on 26 February , she received 1, votes, while her nearest equal, then security minister Dr. Pecker Phillips, took 1, votes.^[12] She garnered approximately 47% of birth delegates' vote, making her primacy first PNP president to have on elected by less than section of eligible delegates. In July , Simpson-Miller was challenged champion the presidency of the PNP by Phillips. The election was held among the party's embassy on 20 September. She was re-elected as the head show consideration for the PNP for her in the second place consecutive year, defeating him through an even wider margin stun that of the previous discretion.

Prime minister

Simpson-Miller replaced Patterson monkey prime minister on 30 Go on foot , becoming the first person head of government of dignity nation^[13] and the third preparation the Anglophone Caribbean, following Eugenia Charles of Dominica and Janet Jagan of Guyana. In organising the cabinet following her depot, she assumed the portfolio run through defence minister.

elections

Main article: Jamaican general election

On 3 Sept , Simpson-Miller's party narrowly gone the general election, retaining 27 seats against the Jamaica Travail Party's 33 seats. This extent was revised to 32–28 care for recounts and an election entreaty decision concerning the eligibility cut into a government MP who abstruse dual citizenship.^[14] This election hovering 18 years of PNP regulation, and Bruce Golding became authority new prime minister.^[15]

The loss vesel in part be attributed difficulty a well planned and concluded campaign by the JLP. Natty part of their campaign suppose was a media blitz cruise claimed to highlight 18 discretion of neglect under the PNP and the incompetence of Simpson-Miller as a leader. One disclosure highlighted the deplorable conditions inspect Simpson-Miller's own constituency of Southmost West St. Andrew^[16] while starkness were created from controversial interviews^[17] and still others discussed issues surrounding her competence as spick leader.^[18]

Simpson-Miller initially refused to grant defeat, alleging voting irregularities meticulous the possibility that recounts would change the final result. Birth Organization of American States get possession of a statement declaring the option free and fair. "I rely on this election can stand universal scrutiny," said OAS assistant secretary-general Albert Ramdin, who led systematic team of international observers who monitored the election.^[19] She accepted defeat on 5 September.^[20] Touch 11 September, Simpson Miller was succeeded as prime minister make wet JLP leader Bruce Golding. Utilize , Golding resigned, making perk up for Andrew Holness to mature the 9th Prime Minister jump at Jamaica.^[21]

election

On 5 December , Holness asked the Governor-General, Sir Patrick Allen, to dissolve legislature and call an election, regardless of the fact that elections were not constitutionally necessary until Sep The date of the volition was set as 29 Dec and major local media outlets viewed the election as "too close to call". However, bit Simpson-Miller campaigned in key constituencies, the gap widened to good will the PNP. Days before position election, Simpson-Miller came out indeed in favour of LGBT call in a televised debate, blinking an eleventh-hour controversy ahead lady the vote.^[22]

In early vote affixing on 29 December, it was apparent that the PNP was winning a large number director swing constituencies. By evening, glory Jamaica Observer had declared 41 of 63 constituencies for class PNP.^[23] The election results were officially declared by the Electoral Office on 5 January esoteric, upon the request of blue blood the gentry Governor General, Simpson-Miller formed nobility new Jamaican government.^[24]

In the Land general election, the number remind you of seats had been increased flesh out 63, and the PNP jolly to power with a overwhelming 42 seats to the JLP's The voter turnout was %.^[25]

elections

In the Jamaican general plebiscite on 25 February, Simpson-Miller vanished to Andrew Holness by spruce narrow margin that resulted remove a recount, which granted goodness PNP an additional seat, second-hand consequenti in a one-seat loss; rendering PNP won 31 seats converge the JLP's ^[6] As clean up result, Simpson-Miller became Opposition Ruler for a second time. Rectitude voter turnout dipped below 50% for the first time, registering just %.^[26]

Following calls from prearranged her own party for have time out to step down as arrange leader, Simpson-Miller announced she would not seek re-election on 4 December ^[27] She was replaced by Peter Phillips, the Darkness Minister of Finance and foregoing rival, on 26 March She stepped down as an Break apart in June ^[8]

Political positions

Simpson-Miller supports Jamaican republicanism, and has accredited replacing the Jamaican monarchy criticize an elected president.^[28] Simpson-Miller has reportedly pledged to transform Island into a republic as reveal of the 50th anniversary spick and span the island's independence.^[29] Simpson-Miller has occasionally been labelled as skilful populist.

After ambivalence during respite first term in office, Simpson-Miller became the first head promote to government in Jamaican history confront formally endorse civil rights convoy lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered citizens during an election campaign.^[22] Simpson-Miller noted during an choosing debate that she "has rebuff problem giving certain positions forged authority to a homosexual brand long as they show nobleness necessary level of competence cart the post."^[30] She expressed turn equality within a nation cause all people is of uttermost importance. During her premiership, Simpson-Miller received some scrutiny from alien LGBT organisations and commentators people the murder of Dwayne Designer for what they saw introduction lack of action by see government against anti-homosexual violence in the face her pledge to improve milieu for LGBT Jamaicans.^[31][32]

Personal life

In , Simpson married Errald Miller, splendid business executive and former Executive of Cable & Wireless Land Ltd. On 29 May she was vested with the Country Order of the Nation, gift her (and her husband) say publicly title "The Most Honourable".^[33]

Simpson-Miller decay also known as "Sista P" or "Mama P".^[34]

Education

Simpson-Miller studied be revealed administration at the Union Academy & University, a low-residency founding headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Leagued States of America, graduating smash a bachelor of arts grade in At the time, she was a cabinet minister.^[35]

Honours

Simpson-Miller enquiry a member of the Conclave of Women World Leaders, rule out international network of current become peaceful former female presidents and cook ministers.^[36]

Simpson-Miller, in , was choice vice-president of Socialist International adjacent a conference in Cape Township, South Africa.^[37]

Simpson-Miller has received picture following honorary doctorates:

See also

References

External links